Foundation garment



May 22, 1962 M. BELL FOUNDATION GARMENT Filed June 15, 1959 INVENTOR.M/Lbfic'D BELL ditm...

United States Patent 3,035,586 FOUNDATION GARMENT Mildred Bell, 232Richmond Ave., Staten Island, N.Y. Filed June 15, 1959, Ser. No. 820,2659 Claims. (Cl. 128524) This invention relates to foundation garments andmore particularly to girdles of the general construction disclosed in myU.S. Patent No. 2,879,771.

As described in said patent, there is provided a foundation garmentwherein the predominant lines of tension therein run in a direction inline with or approximating the direction of the muscles of the body ofthe wearer, particularly that of the long flat muscles that extend alongthe whole length of the abdomen and named rectus abdominus, that of theoblique external muscles of the abdomen, and that of the gluteus maximusmuscles on the back of the body. The girdle is so constructed that thelines of tension approximate the direction of said muscles, thus aidingand complementing the use thereof, and consequently causing the body tobe supported in a natural way avoiding pressures on the diaphragm andother parts of the body and thus giving the wearer of said garment anormal, natural, youthful and healthy figure and appearance.

When the wearer of the foundation garment is seated or assumes a bendingposition, the stretch direction in said garment being complementary tothat of the muscles being contracted, there is in addition no resultingriding down of said garment. Likewise, there is no riding up of the legportions of said garment due to the stretch direction of the garmentfabric around the legs.

The girdle of my present invention is constructed in accordance with theabove described principles and in addition there are incorporated incomplementary parts of the girdle side panels which extend vertically ofthe girdle in such position that they overlie the iliotibial bands ortracts of the body and extend in the same direction as said bands. Saidside panels flatten and prevent or reduce bulging of the underlyingparts of the wearers body without detracting from the effectiveness ofthe construction described and claimed in said patent.

More specifically, the girdle of this invention comp-rises a bodyencircling and compressive girdle adapted to overlie the wearersabdomen, hips and buttocks and thighs, said girdle being formed ofcomplementary parts stitched to each other along vertical, front andrear medial lines, said girdle comprising elastic compressive materialand having upper front and side portions which extend rearwardly fromsaid front medial line of the girdle and over the region correspondingto that of the hips of the wearer when said garment is on the wearer andportions which are continuous with said upper side portions and whichextend to said rear medial line of the girdle downwardly over the regioncorresponding to that of buttocks of the wearer, said girdle havinglower front and side portions below said first mentioned side portions,said upper front and side portions having a greater compressiveelasticity laterally of the wearer than said lower side portions of thegirdle and coacting with said buttock portions to provide an upwardlyacting resilient support for the wearers buttocks, said girdlecomprising two sections secured to each other by vertical seams at saidfront and rear vertical lines, and side panels are inserted as portionsof said comp ementary parts of the girdle and overlie the iliotibialtracts. Said inserted panels in said complementary parts of the girdleare preferably formed in single layers, respectively, of one-Way stretchelastic fabric, e.g., satin Lastex, and are arranged in the girdle sothat the stretch is in a vertical direction. Further, the inserted sidepanels are relatively narrow in the upper portions thereof, i.e., in theregion of the waist line of the garment and are relatively wide in thelower portions, i.e., in the region of the wearers hips and thighs,whereby to obtain the optimum eflect of the intended function of saidpanels.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the girdle is sodesigned that the part at the waist line extends in contoured fashionaround the wearer along a line substantially coincident with the wearersnatural bend line at the waist line of the body.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be fully understood from the following descriptionconsidered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a girdle embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, on the line 22 of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the girdle; and

.FIG. 4 is a sectionm view, on a larger scale, on the line 44 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, the girdle comprises thecomplementary parts It} and 12 which are stitched to each other alongvertical front and rear medial lines 14 and 16, respectively. Each ofsaid complementary parts It) and 12 comprises front and rear upper panelparts which include inner and outer layers indicated at 18 and 20,respectively, in the cases of part 10, and at 22 and 24, respectively,in the case of part 12. As indicated by the horizontal and verticalarrows the inner and outer layers of each of parts 10 and 12 are made ofelastic fabric of diflerential stretch characteristics and in the caseof a panty-girdle, the outer layer is continuous with the leg parts 26and 28, respectively, as described in my above mentioned patent. Also,in the panty-girdle, the outer fabric layers have an easier stretchlaterally than vertically while the superposed inner layers have aneasier stretch vertically than laterally. The upper and lower edges ofthe inner layers 18 and 22 are stitched to the outer layers by the linesof zig-zag stitching indicated at 30 and 32, respectively.

In accordance with the present invention, side panels 34 and 36 areinserted in the parts 10 and 12, respectively, in positions in whicheach of said panels overlies the fascial layer of the iliotibial tractat the corresponding side of the wearers body. Each of said panelspreferably consists of a single layer of elastic fabric which isstretchable vertically and non-stretchable laterally as disposed in thegarment. Panel 34 is stitched in part 10 by the lines of stitching 38and 40 which can stretch vertically, and panel 36 is similarly stitchedin part 12 by the lines of stitching 42 and 44 which are verticallystretchable. The inserted panels 34 and 36 in the two sections orcomplementary parts 10 and 12, respectively,

although formed of single layers of fabric, are continuous with thelaterally adjacent portions of the sections in which front and sideportions which extend rearwardly from said front medial line of thegirdle and over the region corresponding to that of the hips of thewearer when said garment is on the wearer and portions which arecontinuous with said upper side portions and which extend to said rearmedial line of the girdle downwardly over the region corresponding tothat of the buttocks of the wearer, said girdle having lower front andside portions below said first mentioned side portions, said upper frontand side portions having a greater compressive elasticity laterally ofthe wearer than said lower side portions of the girdle and coacting withsaid buttock portions to provide an upwardly acting resilient supportfor the wearers buttocks. As indicated above panels 34 and 36 arepreferably made of satin Lastex fabric. It will be observed that theupper part 46 of each panel near the waist line is relatively narrow andthat the panel is of substantially increased width in the regions of thehips and thighs so as to provide the desired flattening effect in saidlast mentioned regions without excessive constriction in the region ofthe waistline.

The waist line region of the girdle is contoured, as previously statedherein, so that it corresponds to the natural bend line of the body.Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, for example, the upper edge of thegirdle is lower at its front medial part 47 than at the upper side edgeportions 48 and that the back medial edge portion 54) is lower than saidside edge portions 48 but somewhat higher than the front medial portion47. It will be understood, however, that the waist line contour of thischaracter is provided along a corresponding curve of gradual variation,as illustrated, as distinguished from abrupt changes in contouring ofthe waist line region of the garment.

When the garment is a panty-girdle, the outer two-way stretch fabricwhich includes the layers 26 and 24 is preferably of the indicatedstretch characteristics relative to the above indicated stretchcharacteristics of the inner layers 18 and 22, but in a girdle whichdoes not hav legencircling parts, outer layers may have a less easierlateral stretch than the inner layers. Also, in the case of apantygirdle provided with the laterally non-elastic fabric of the sidepanels 34 and 36, the lateral stretch of the outer fabric layers of thetwo sections and 12 is preferably easier than in a girdle which isdevoid of leg-encircling portions, so as to avoid excessive constrictivepressure circumferentially of the wearers thighs.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and thatcertain changes in the form and arrangement of parts and in the specificmanner of practicing the invention may be made without departing fromthe underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A foundation garment comprising, a main body encircling andcompressive member made of elastic material and having greaterstretching ability circumferentially thereof than vertically thereof,and a panel having greater stretching ability vertically thereof thancircumferentially thereof extending circumferentially of said bodymember in the region corresponding to that of the abdomen, hips andbuttocks when said garment is on the wearer and having greaterresistance to stretch circumferentially than said main body member andhaving a configuration such that the combined effect of said body memberand panel provide said foundation garment with lines of tension andstretch running in a direction approximating the direction of action ofthe wearers muscles on said regions of the body, said main bodyencircling member and said panel comprising two sections, each of saidsections having a vertically extending side panel overlying the fasciallayer of the iliotibial tract of the wearers body when the garment isworn, said sections extending in opposite directions from a centralvertical line at the front of the garment to one side of said side paneland from the opposite side of said side panel to a central vertical lineat the back of the garment, said two sections being stitched to eachother by front and rear central vertical lines of stitching at saidfront and rear vertical lines, respectively, of the garment, said sidepanels being secured in each of said sections by laterally spacedvertical lines of stitching.

2. A garment of the class described, comprising a body encircling andcompressive girdle adapted to overlie the wearers abdomen, hips andbuttocks and thighs, said girdle being formed of complementary partsstitched to each other along vertical, front and rear medial lines, saidgirdle comprising elastic compressive material and having upper frontand side portions which extend rearwardly from said front medial line ofthe girdle and over the region corresponding to that of the hips of thewearer when said garment is on the wearer and portions which arecontinuous with said upper side portions and which extend to said rearmedial line of the girdle downwardly over the region corresponding tothat of the buttocks of the wearer, said girdle having lower front andside portions below said upper side portions, said upper front and sideportions having a greater compressive elasticity laterally of the wearerthan said lower side portions of the girdle and coacting with saidbuttock portions of the girdle to provide an upwardly acting resilientsupport for the wearers buttocks, said upper and lower side portions ofsaid body encircling girdle comprising vertically extending side panelsinserted in each of said complementary parts in the regions overlyingthe fascial layer of the iliotibial tract of the wearers body when saidgarment is worn, and secured in each of said parts by laterally spacedvertical lines of stitching.

3. A garment of the class described, comprising a girdle having a bodyencircling part comprising front and rear parts each having superimposedlayers of fabric overlying the wearers abdomen and buttocks,respectively, one of the layers in each of said parts having an easierstretch vertically than laterally and the other layer in each of saidparts having an easier stretch laterally than vertically, and sidepanels of vertically tretchable elastic fabric disposed in the girdle ateach side thereof between said front and rear parts and overlying theiliotibial tract of the wearers body when the garment is worn, saidsidepanels being secured to said front and rear parts by verticalstretchable lines of stitching, said side panels and said front and rearparts having a configuration such that the combined effect of said sidepanels and said front and rear parts provide said garment with lines oftension and stretch running in a direction approximating the directionof action of the wearers muscles on said regions of the body.

4. A garment of the class described, comprising a girdle having a bodyencircling part comprising front and rear parts each having superimposedlayers of fabric overlying the wearers abdomen and buttocks,respectively, one of the layers in each of said parts having an easierstretch vertically than laterally and the other layer in each of saidparts having an easier stretch laterally than vertically, and sidepanels of vertically stretchable elastic fabric disposed in the girdleat each side thereof between said front and rear parts overlying theiliotibial tract of the wearers body when the garment is worn, said sidepanels being secured to said front and rear parts by verticalstretchable lines of stitching, said side panels being substantiallywider in the region of the wearers hips and thighs than at the waistline region, said side panels and said front and rear parts having aconfiguration such that the combined effect of said side panels and saidfront and rear parts provide said garment with lines of tension andstretch running in a direction approximating the direction of action ofthe wearers muscles on said regions of the body.

5. A garment of the class described, comprising a girdle having a bodyencircling part comprising front and rear parts each having superimposedlayers of fabric overlying the wearers abdomen and buttocks,respectively, one of the layers in each of said parts having an easierstretch vertically than laterally and the other layer in each of saidparts having an easier stretch laterally than vertically, and sidepanels of vertically stretchable elastic fabric disposed in the girdleat each side thereof between said front and rear parts and overlying theiliotibial tract of the wearers body when the garment is worn, said sidepanels being secured to said front and rear parts by verticalstretchable lines of stitching, said side panels being composed ofone-way stretch fabric, said side panels and said front and rear partshaving a configuration such that the combined effect of said side panelsand said front and rear parts provide said garment with lines of tensionand stretch running in a direction approximating the direction of actionof the wearers muscles on said regions of the body.

6. A garment of the CilSS described, comprising a girdie having a bodyencircling part comprising front and rear parts each having superimposedlayers of fabric overlying the wearers abdomen and buttocks,respectively, one of the layers in each of said parts having an easierstretch vertically than laterally and the other layer in each of saidparts having an easier stretch laterally than vertically, and sidepanels of vertically stretchable elastic fabric disposed in the girdleat each side thereof between said front and rear parts and overlying theiliotibial tract of the wearers body when the garment is worn, said sidepanels being secured to said front and rear parts by verticalstretchable lines of stitching, said side panels being composed ofone-way stretch fabric, said side panels being substantially wider inthe region of the wearers hips and thighs than at the waist line region,said side panels and said front and rear parts having a configurationsuch that the combined effect of said side panels and said front andrear parts provide said garment with lines of tension and stretchrunning in a direction approximating the direction of action of thewearers muscles on said regions of the body.

7. A foundation garment comprising, a main body encircling andcompressive member made of elastic material and having greaterstretching ability circumferentially thereof than vertically thereof,and a panel having greater stretching ability vertically thereof thancircumferentially thereof extending circumferentially of said bodymember in the region corresponding to that of the abdomen, hips andbuttocks when said garment is on the wearer and having greaterresistance to stretch circumferentially than said main body member andhaving a configuration such that the combined effect of said body memberand panel provide said foundation garment with lines of tension andstretch running in a direction approximating the direction of action ofthe Wearers muscles on said regions of the body, said main bodyencircling member and said panel comprising two sections, each of saidsections having a vertically extending side panel overlying the fasciallayer of the iliotibial tract of the wearers body when the garment isWorn, said sections extending in opposite directions from a centralvertical line at the front of the garment to one side of said side paneland from the opposite side of said side panel to a central vertical lineat the back of the garment, said two sections being stitched to eachother by front and rear central vertical lines of stitching at saidfront and rear vertical lines, respectively, of the garment, said sidepanels being secured in each of said sections by laterally spacedvertical lines of stitching, and said vertically extending side panelsand said last mentioned vertical lines of stitching being stretchable ina vertical direction.

8. A foundation garment comprising, a main body encircling andcompressive member made of elastic material and having greaterstretching ability circumferentially thereof than vertically thereof,and a panel having greater stretching'ability vertically thereof thancircumerentially thereof extending circumferentially of said body memberin the region corresponding to that of the abdomen, hips and buttockswhen said garment is on the wearer and having greater resistance tostretch circumferentially than said main body member and having aconfiguration such that the combined effect of said body member andpanel provide said foundation garment with lines of tension and stretchrunning in a direction ap proximating the direction of action of thewearers muscles on said regions of the body, said main body encirclingmember and said panel comprising two sections, each of said sectionshaving a vertically extending side panel overlying the fascial layer ofthe iliotibial tract of the wearers body when the garment is worn, saidsections extending in opposite directions from a central vertical lineat the front of the garment to one side of said side panel and from theopposite side of said side panel to a central vertical line at the backof the garment, said two sec tions being stitched to each other by frontand rear central vertical lines of stitching at said front and rearvertical lines, respectively, of the garment, said side panels beingsecured in each of said sections by laterally spaced vertical lines ofstitching, and said vertically extending side panels being substantiallywider in the region of the wearers hips and thighs than at the waistline region.

9. A foundation garment comprising, a main body encircling andcompressive member made of elastic material and having greaterstretching ability circumferentially thereof than vertically thereof,and a panel having greater stretching ability vertically thereof thancircumferentially thereof extending circumferentially of said bodymember in the region corresponding to that of the abdomen, hips andbuttocks when said garment is on the wearer and having greaterresistance to stretch circumferentially than said main body member andhaving a configuration such that the combined etfcct of said body memberand panel provide said foundation garment with lines of tension andstretch running in a direction approximating the direction of action ofthe wearers muscles on said regions of the body, said main bodyencircling member and said panel comprising two sections extending inopposite directions from a central vertical line at the front of thegarment to one side of said side panel and from the opposite side ofsaid side panel to a central vertical line at the back of the garment,said two sections being stitched to each other by front and rear centralvertical lines of stitching at said front and rear vertical lines,respectively, of the garment, said side panels being secured in each ofsaid sections by laterally spaced vertical lines of stitching, and awaist encircling elastic region conforming in complete circumferentialcontour to the natural bend line of the female figure at the front,sides and back thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,488,773 Anchorstar Apr. 1, 1924 2,634,417 Kaplan Aug. 14, 19532,732,556 Erteszek Jan. 31, 1956 2,872,927 Erteszek Feb. 10, 19592,879,771 Bell Mar, 31, 1959 2,899,963 Spitzer Aug. 18, 1959

